Momos on Wheel: A saga of grit and determination

There is apparently no novelty in selling momos neither can such bland business activity attract attention of society. But, a young couple from Siliguri town in the north of West Bengal bordering Bangladesh and Nepal, has lifted a well-worn business endeavour into a novel effort which aims to benefit the downtrodden.

Momo is a Nepali/Tibetan delicacy extremely popular even among non-Nepali and non-Tibetan populations of India and most so in the northern regions of West Bengal. In Siliguri you cannot find a single soul who would not enjoy eating momo. But, never did they think that this widely popular delicacy can become an effective tool for elevation of poor and downtrodden.

Debayan Biswas, a local lad, and his wife Taashi Bhutia, have had their shares of worries in life, seen financial downturns and faced humongous opposition which would have pulled anyone else down to devastation. The rollercoaster rides they had in their lives had steeled their determination to stand by the poor, be the voices of the oppressed and help the needy. Their idea was not to offer them doles but something else, something unique.

They decided to use momo to fulfil their dream, their aspiration. They launched Momos on Wheels — a unique venture that would bring economic freedom to the poor, smiles on the faces of the beleaguered and hopes to the despondent.

Momos of Wheel is indeed a unique venture carried out on a cooperative basis. It is not owned by Debayan and Taashi but over two dozens who are equal stake holders of the fledgling company. In just about six months since its inception Momos on Wheel has become a brand in Siliguri town — a household name.

Its momos are cheap, delicious, well prepared, hygienically served and is awaited keenly across spectrum in Siliguri. Momos of Momos on Wheel are available only between five and ten in the evening irrespective of what the weather and climate is.

Neither Debayan nor Taashi takes back a penny from the profit Momos on Wheels ear. In fact, they don’t need. Debayan is a top notch executive with a very big health care company and Taashi runs her own flourishing import and export business. Well off as they are both the husband and wife, however, continue to remain the backbones of the growing company. Momos on Wheel is a child to them — a passion which, I am convinced, will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Pray, what makes Momos on Wheel so unique? It is because it has become a beacon light, an incentive to live and a cause to look forward to life to at least two dozen people, men and women, who were just the other day only inches away from death.

There they have at Momos on Wheel a woman, barely in her early thirties, who has found a new meaning of life. She was abandoned by her beastly husband with a child and was given just Rs300 ($5) to fend and feed her child. She had two options if she wanted to escape from the situation she suddenly found herself into. She could have killed herself and her child or taken to prostitution.

Momos on Wheel literally took her home and gave back her life and dignity. Today she earns enough to have her own shelter, afford a decent education for her child and she now lives with pride.

A young boy, barely of 18, could have become a criminal or an anti-social had he not been taken into refuge by Momos on Wheel. When he came to Debayan and Taashi he was absolutely penniless and hungry. Today, after only a few months of being with Momos on Wheel this lad is now earning enough to afford a critical eye surgery of his octogenarian mother.

There are many like them in Momos on Wheels. In fact, every single stake holder of the company has a tale to tell — a tale of sheer despondency, indignity, exploitation, poverty and hunger. Today, every single of them are as important and contributing members of the local society as you and I.

Today, if we cannot become partners to Debayan and Taashi in their endeavours to stand by the deprived and browbeaten we can at least stand by them and wish the young couple the very best. Let us bless them and bless Momos on Wheel.

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